The Year’s Top Fitness Advice

We all know how important exercise is to maintaining health, and that the benefits range from a leaner physique to improved mood and sleep. Research study after research study also highlight how staying active helps you prevent or manage the symptoms of numerous conditions, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, depression, anxiety and more.

Yet, we’re all motivated in different ways, and all have different levels of mobility and endurance. In 2018, we published a number of articles to help you wherever you are on your fitness journey — whether you need to take the first steps and get moving, or need to find ways to challenge yourself or maximize your current exercise routine.

Here’s a rundown of our most popular MoveWell articles from last year to help you stay active in 2019:

How Much Exercise Do You Really Need?Health experts have been pushing almost-daily activity for decades. But a new study suggests you may not need to exercise four to five days each week to reap the rewards. While it’s true that more exercise is better for your body (without getting into extremes), not everyone can squeeze in 50 minutes of activity five days a week. For those people, this recent study confirms some exercise is better than none.

7 Common Workout Mistakes to AvoidRegular exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health. But if you’re not careful, you can sideline your efforts with an injury, burnout and more. An athletic trainer gives advice on how to avoid common workout mistakes.

Core Strengthening: How & Why to Sculpt Your AbsWhile many fitness buffs aim for sculpted abs because they want to look trim and fit, the benefits of strong core muscles go far beyond vanity. No matter your fitness goals, building strong core muscles is critical. Core strengthening helps you maintain balance and plays a huge role in activities of daily living.

How to Exercise at Every AgeExercise is among the best ways to improve your health and quality of life, especially as you get older. Staying active can help avoid many age-related limitations, such as difficulty climbing stairs, walking long distances or reaching overhead to change a lightbulb. The key to keeping fit as you age is viewing exercise as a lifelong pursuit and tailoring activities to your specific needs, no matter how old you are.

The Benefits of Setting Fitness GoalsWhether you’re an experienced athlete or a couch potato just working your way into a regular exercise routine, setting SMART fitness goals can be a great motivator and help you take your workouts to the next level.

Hot or Cold Therapy: What’s Best for Muscle Recovery?When your muscles are overworked and in need of some tender loving care, it’s not uncommon to seek healing in cold or hot treatments. Which is a better choice and when? Do expensive cryotherapy chambers or new infared saunas speed up recovery? An athletic trainer explains.

A health and wellness blog produced by Henry Ford Health System, and designed to share our knowledge on a variety of topics – from tips on eating healthy, staying fit and reducing stress to advice on chronic disease management and news on medical research and health technology.